Interesting study
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10439-022-02963-8
It concluded "In summary, we compared the head and brain protection performance of several modern motorcycle helmets under oblique impacts against a 45° anvil at 8m/s and five locations. The results showed that the impact location has a significant effect on the helmet protective performance. However, this effect is not consistent considering different kinematics-based injury metrics and strain distribution across the brain, corpus callosum and sulci. Among the three rotational management technologies, MIPS was effective in reducing all injury metrics and brain strain compared with conventional helmets. Flex was effective in reducing PRA only and ODS was not effective in reducing any injury metrics. In addition, there was no association between price and performance of the studied helmets, with very expensive helmets not providing better protection than low price helmets. This study shows the importance of using different impact locations and injury metrics when assessing head protection effects of helmets. It also provides new data on the performance of modern motorcycle helmets. These results can help with improving helmet design and developing standard and rating test methods."
Could some of the brains in here pick apart this study and tell me what it means? I know this was for street helmets, but it is still interesting. I have personal anecdotal evidence with 6d,mips and other tech.
In the early studies of MIPS they were using bald dummy heads and had great results, I wonder if they have done studies with the dummy having a full head of hair yet. Always wondered if hair would allow the helmet to rotate on the head like MIPS does.
ODS = 6D? I'm surprised by the results of the test.
Yeah if you scroll down a little in the link it shows the 6d helmet they used.
Thanks for sharing!
This defies all the marketing buzz we've been hearing for years!
Adding pictures for those that won't read the article.
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I think you might not be understanding how MIPS functions.
The rotation doesn't occur on your head
The helmet is 2 pieces, the piece touching your head stays still while the shell moves when impacted.
Hair or bald it wouldn't change this.
I've never claimed to be the brightest bulb in the box but this was the only study I could find when I was looking for new helmets for my 11yr old son a while back. Don't know if I made the right choice, but this led me to pass on the 6D and go with the latest Fox RS helmets with the most updated MIPS system with multi-density liner.
If I'm reading this right, they measured impact at a speed of 8.0 (+ 0.15/− 0.0) m/s, roughly 17.5mph.
I think it could be confounding the results because street helmets would be designed for higher speed impacts, which could explain why there is not much difference in the performance of these helmets.
Not really two pieces, its just a thin plastic piece of plastic basically milk jug material that is attached with some plastic pins that let it slide a little bit.
When you add hair, sweat and pads into the mix the odds of it staying perfectly stuck to your head and the helmet moving around the mips connections is a bit trival at best.
If your head moves slightly inside the shell (due to hair, sweat, pads), wouldn't that dissipate additional force and make the MIPS look more beneficial when tested?
Yes but also would make any other helmet look better as well.
Wear A helmet. A helmet is better than no helmet, especially combined with the head pounding back dozen beer 🍺🍺( deadly combo).
Curious how 6D responds. Fly, too. Their helmet tech is a similar design --- elastomers that create "float" in different layers of materials
The performance differences across technology are clear, at least in this study.
Testing at 17 MPH seems reasonable to me. Most of my impacts are low speed. If higher speed, I'd expect the study results to be even more pronounced.
Conclusion w/ regards to safety outcomes: Buy ECE22.06 and MIPS. Don't worry about price.
I think the overall larger shell size of the 6d is a part of what hurts its ability to reduce rotational energy. Leatt has some data that shows a 10% increase in shell size amplified the rotational energy and resulted in a 30% increase of rotational energy transfer.
Rotational energy is more likely to cause a worse injury than the other impacts. Leatt has data saying that 50 G's of force is needed for a concussion, and much less rotational energy can be deadly. I do not recall the exact number so I do not want to say one, but its close to half the amount of G's that can give a concussion. So this is why reducing rotational energy is so important. But its also not the only type of energy that a helmet needs to absorb . Its only 1 part of the overall package. And were the ODS that 6D has may perform lower in certain types of impacts, it will way out perform in other types of impacts.
Leatt has a ton of data that can be useful on helping decide which helmet to buy even if it is another brand.
In certain types of impacts I'm sure the 6d would out perform every other helmet. Right now ( in my opinion ) there really is no single safest helmet for every type of crash. It can be confusing reading through marketing and test data and seeing what is marketing and what is useful data. But the more You can learn about how each helmet absorbs energy , You can try and figure out the type of helmet that will protect You best for the type of riding You do and how You normally crash. Its not going to be a 100% accurate way of picking the best helmet for your next crash. But In my opinion, factoring those things into the decision can be helpful. Along with picking the helmet that fits You the best. Not too tight or lose, no pressure points, etc.
I've seen some people turned off of higher end helmets because their $149.999 helmet has a nice soft, deep ,cushy liner and the higher end helmets do not have as thick of a liner. The reason that $149.99 helmet has that thick cushy liner is often because the shell and EPS are the same size over a big range of helmet sizes and the liner itself is making up the difference. Liner material is there for comfort, the EPS/Mips/ODS/Koroyd/etc. is there to help absorb energy from a crash. Also by making a shell and EPS that covers a smaller range of sizes, ( Higher end helmets will have 3 to 5 shell sizes while cheaper helmets may have a single shell or 2 that cover the entire range of sizes) the important parts of the helmet have been designed to work best at each size, and You are not getting the extra shell size that adds weight and can also result in transferring more rotational energy as a result of the leverage of that larger shell.
The shell material can also help distribute energy, but makes less difference in rotational energy reduction. So as far as rotational energy reduction, I would bet that there is very little difference between a Composite or carbon fiber shell. Other types of impacts are when those shell materials provide a bigger advantage. Lighter weight can help in multiple ways , but may not show as much on the rotational impact tests.
I wonder what 6d will say, I might email my contact at 6d to see if he has anything to say about it.
Leatt has a system more similar to the Fly helmet. The 6d helmet is much more complicated and has some parts that move to absorb the energy by creating a suspension like system that separates the outer and inner EPS. While the Fly and Leatt helmets rely on the materials energy absorbing properties and have a more conventional design . With the elastomers having a more direct contact with Your head only having the liner between them and Your head. , while 6d is all hidden away. Many brands also have different density EPS in different areas.
Its funny how many MTB helmets all have similar systems to the Leatt with elastomers .
If you do hear anything back from 6D, please share what you can.
I believe the ATR-3 has an overall smaller shell size right?
Like I said before, MIPS early studies used bald dummy heads which would make a helmet with MIPS look far better for rotational impacts than a helmet without MIPS. I'm just curious if they ever did any studies of a dummy head with hair wearing MIPS and without. Would be interesting to see how much hair plays a factor in reducing rotational impacts or if it doesn't. so far I haven't found a study like this.
Yes it is smaller overall. I just emailed them now. I've been doing most of my 6d purchases through Parts Unlimited the past couple years. So I'm hoping my contact info for them is still good. It would surprise people how few people are doing most of the work at 6d. Its a smaller company for how big they are. Everybody there is super pasionate and knows a ton about the helmets.
I let him know about this thread and the test its talking about and asked for a reply to my email or if he could come on and post a direct reply himself. He is normally really responsive, but I have never asked for some sort of public statement answer in the past. So who knows. I will update what I hear back.
still think that the arai helmet is one of the safest even if it lack in new tech.
Pit Row
Based on what? The worst KO I've had was in an Arai.
I am a little bummed. Spent a few weeks earlier this year looking at helmets and finally pulled the trigger on a 6D, after wrecking in my Fly Formula Carbon. I could have spent less and been safer in a MIPS helmet, according to this study.
I have been knocked out in an Arai and a 6D. The difference was after Arai checked it and found it bad, it was trash. My 6D on the other hand was rebuilt for less than $150 including a new visor and it was good to go. I currently have a 6D ATR-2 and a Troy Lee with MIPS and now wonder which to wear. I feel safe in either actually.
Arai doesn't have MIPS or anything other than the foam liner , not sure why you brought it up?
I just did the exact same thing. Been in Fly formulas for years now, just got a 6d and see this lol.
The 6D helmet used was not using the latest gen ODS system that’s featured in the ATR-3. There was also a study done in conjunction with Fly/WPS (during development of the Formula), where the Formula and a helmet that most concluded to be the 6D ATR-2 ranked 1 and 2 overall for all segments of impact testing which included rotational impacts.
6Ds technology has also done tremendously well in independent NFL studies involving rotational impacts. If I remember correctly they won multiple large grants as a result. There’s a whole lot of conclusions on here coming from this one study, which is understandable as it seems to be the one that’s most easily found for now
So what do yall think about the Arai? I was thinking of going from an A Star SM8 to an Arai, but am worried about the “dated” tech. Is it just foam?
Should I be looking at something different? They’re quite expensive.
“In addition, there was no association between price and performance of the studied helmets, with very expensive helmets not providing better protection than low price helmets.”
Been saying this for a while.
Just did some field testing with my trusty old 6-D ATR-2 and it passed with flying colors . I’m not buying this test. Last week I was on my way to winning my first District 37 hare and hound race in the old guy expert class , until things went bad. Was doing about 40 when I hit something and my back tire became my front tire. I hit my head real hard. When I got up , I knew where I was and why I was there. When you suffer a concussion , you are lost and out of it. My first thought was I threw away my first H&H win , my second thought was I can still get it , which I did. THANK YOU 6-D. The helmet is in for repair now for $150 as stated above. Will be getting an ATR-3 just to have 2 helmets , because after taking a big hit that compromises the helmet I won’t miss my ride days waiting on the rebuild. This is all from a 62 year old who’s had 7 concussions.
Try one on and see how they fit you. But yes its just EPS foam.
The Alpinestars SM10 is a step up from the SM8. The newest model passes the current tests for rotational and chin bar impacts. I've found that some sizes fit a little tighter than the SM8 and previous SM10's But I was able to swap my liner from my SM8 into the newest SM10 and it fit and felt a little more comfortable than the SM8 I normally wear. Its hard to describe exactly how, but it just felt like it fit better. They changed the EPS by the ears and chin bar areas. No more recesses for headphone speakers. And I think they may have made the cheek pads a little thicker. On the SM8 and past SM10's I had a few customers fall in between sizes and they needed the larger cheek pads for the correct fit. I have not had that problem with the SM10. Some riders have had to go from a medium to large and large to XL. But I have not found anybody that needed to change out the pads yet like the SM8 and old SM10.
I have been thinking about buying an Arai to try out since I am a dealer for them . And I have worn the other brands I sell. But in the past when I have tried one on they never fit me right. I've heard that they are working on a new MX helmet for the past year ( that's when I started to hear rumors I have no idea when they started to work on the new helmet) or so. Right around the time I first heard about the ATR-3 , there were also whispers of a new Arai MX helmet on the way. My reps have only confirmed that they also heard a rumor but that's it.
Arai's street helmets feel lightyears ahead of most of the other brands just from a quality and padding aspect, I do think they need to revamp their offroad stuff though as they are falling a little behind.
Ive been very impressed with my TLD SE5 ive owned a lot of helmets and it might be my favorite so far, the new Fox helmets also look like quality.
The TLD helmets have always had a great fit and finish to them. And feel like a quality helmet while handling them. I've never worn one myself. I used to wear nothing but Shoie's for ever. Then I tried on an SM8 and it fit so much better that I have stopped wearing my Shoei's . I first tried one when I became a dealer for them. A buddy of mine that has worn Arai, TLD,HJC,AXO, Shoei and now is wearing Alpinestars SM8's and 10's. I told him to try out the SM8 I had and he was hesitant at first. Called me the Monday after his first race in it and said he needed to get a couple more. Said he can not wear the Shoei anymore after wearing the SM8. and loves the newest SM10. He loves how well it vents and how light it feels VS his Shoei. He has the current generation Shoei .
Its great that there are a lot more good options for a quality ,safe helmet now than there was 20 or 30 years ago. Back when it was Shoie, Arai or sometimes Bell when they wanted to make a good helmet. Now You can add Fox, TLD, Alpinestars, Leatt, Fly ,6d and some others to the list of helmets that are a quality option. 6D gets a lot of credit ( in my opinion ) for really elevating the level of safety and protection that modern helmets offer.
Also , still have not heard back from my6d contact. I'm going to try and look into it to see if I missed any emails with updated info and try and reach out again.
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